Texas and Ohio Officials Face Backlash After Ordering Cessation of Abortions
Mar 27, 2020
Acting on federal guidelines, conservative attorneys general in both Ohio and Texas ordered health care providers in their respective states to halt “nonessential” surgical abortions in order to conserve personal protective equipment for healthcare workers fighting COVID-19.
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton wrote, “No one is exempt from the governor’s executive order on medically unnecessary surgeries and procedures, including abortion providers. Those who violate the governor’s order will be met with the full force of the law.” Texas health care providers who don’t comply could be fined up to $1,000 or be jailed for 180 days.
And then last week in Ohio, Attorney General Dave Yost issued a similar directive, ordering two abortion providers in the Buckeye State to stop “nonessential surgical abortions.”
In the midst of this pandemic, pro-abortion groups are still clamoring for “reproductive rights.” Claiming to be in compliance, Planned Parenthood in Ohio is continuing to provide abortions, stating that “Planned Parenthood’s top priority is ensuring every person can continue accessing essential healthcare, including abortion.”
American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and a number of other medical professional member organizations released a joint statement in response that said, “[We] do not support COVID-19 responses that cancel or delay abortion procedures. Community-based and hospital-based clinicians should consider collaboration to ensure abortion access is not compromised during this time.”
On Tuesday, more than 50 leaders of pro-life groups sent a letter to Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services Alex Azar calling on all public health officials to oppose the promotion of abortion during the virus outbreak. The letter reads in part, “While we are in a hectic race to save lives, Planned Parenthood and other powers in the abortion industry remain insistent on taking the lives of innocent unborn children. While surgery centers postpone elective and diagnostic procedures, abortion centers are churning out surgical and chemical abortions and putting women, especially the poor, at risk.” The rest of the letter outlines five ways to resist the abortion lobby’s agenda.
This morning, Governor Lee stated that abortion services were intended to be covered by his Executive Order No. 18 calling for a cessation of all non-essential health care and surgical procedures. There was indication that the attorney general was prepared to enforce EO 18, but it was not clear if that would extend to abortion, since it is treated by the courts as a constitutional exception to all other regular health care services.
Gov. Lee: Abortions included in Tennessee ban on non-emergency surgeries amid COVID-19 outbreak
Chattanooga Times Free Press
COVID-19 LETTER: Pro-life Leaders Warn of Abortion Industry Exploitation
SBA List
Abortion and Coronavirus: Here’s What You Need to Know
Daily Signal
Clinics in Ohio and Texas ordered to stop ‘nonessential’ surgical abortions
The Guardian
Texas, Ohio governors order non-essential surgeries to be stopped, including most abortions
FOX 17
COVID-19 closes churches, schools, businesses. Why is abortion industry open for business?
LifeSiteNews
US doctor group demands hospitals overwhelmed from coronavirus continue abortions
LifeSiteNews
Joint Statement on Abortion Access During the COVID-19 Outbreak
The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists
NOTE: FACT provides links to external websites for educational purposes only. The inclusion of any links to other websites does not necessarily constitute an endorsement.
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton wrote, “No one is exempt from the governor’s executive order on medically unnecessary surgeries and procedures, including abortion providers. Those who violate the governor’s order will be met with the full force of the law.” Texas health care providers who don’t comply could be fined up to $1,000 or be jailed for 180 days.
And then last week in Ohio, Attorney General Dave Yost issued a similar directive, ordering two abortion providers in the Buckeye State to stop “nonessential surgical abortions.”
In the midst of this pandemic, pro-abortion groups are still clamoring for “reproductive rights.” Claiming to be in compliance, Planned Parenthood in Ohio is continuing to provide abortions, stating that “Planned Parenthood’s top priority is ensuring every person can continue accessing essential healthcare, including abortion.”
American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and a number of other medical professional member organizations released a joint statement in response that said, “[We] do not support COVID-19 responses that cancel or delay abortion procedures. Community-based and hospital-based clinicians should consider collaboration to ensure abortion access is not compromised during this time.”
On Tuesday, more than 50 leaders of pro-life groups sent a letter to Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services Alex Azar calling on all public health officials to oppose the promotion of abortion during the virus outbreak. The letter reads in part, “While we are in a hectic race to save lives, Planned Parenthood and other powers in the abortion industry remain insistent on taking the lives of innocent unborn children. While surgery centers postpone elective and diagnostic procedures, abortion centers are churning out surgical and chemical abortions and putting women, especially the poor, at risk.” The rest of the letter outlines five ways to resist the abortion lobby’s agenda.
This morning, Governor Lee stated that abortion services were intended to be covered by his Executive Order No. 18 calling for a cessation of all non-essential health care and surgical procedures. There was indication that the attorney general was prepared to enforce EO 18, but it was not clear if that would extend to abortion, since it is treated by the courts as a constitutional exception to all other regular health care services.
News Sources
Gov. Lee: Abortions included in Tennessee ban on non-emergency surgeries amid COVID-19 outbreakChattanooga Times Free Press
COVID-19 LETTER: Pro-life Leaders Warn of Abortion Industry Exploitation
SBA List
Abortion and Coronavirus: Here’s What You Need to Know
Daily Signal
Clinics in Ohio and Texas ordered to stop ‘nonessential’ surgical abortions
The Guardian
Texas, Ohio governors order non-essential surgeries to be stopped, including most abortions
FOX 17
COVID-19 closes churches, schools, businesses. Why is abortion industry open for business?
LifeSiteNews
US doctor group demands hospitals overwhelmed from coronavirus continue abortions
LifeSiteNews
Joint Statement on Abortion Access During the COVID-19 Outbreak
The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists
NOTE: FACT provides links to external websites for educational purposes only. The inclusion of any links to other websites does not necessarily constitute an endorsement.
